Posted on 07/03/2012 8:14:29 AM PDT by smokingfrog
That’s unknowable, yet the headline in the Houston Chronicle would have you think Texas’ 2007 law is stirring up more business for the state’s county morgues. It says:
Texas justifiable homicides rise with ‘Castle Doctrine’
It might be a useful story except for that detour it has your mind take with the verbal gymnastics. See, there’s a difference between homicides rising “with” the Castle Doctrine and “because” of the Castle Doctrine law that Texas lawmakers passed in 2007 to clarify a person’s duty to retreat when fearing danger.
The story’s lead anecdote was about a thief who was shot dead trying to run off with $20.29 from a taco stand’s tip jar, part of an increase in justifiable homicides in the Houston area in recent years. Truth is, the taco stand killing would have been justifiable even before 2007, since it was basically about protecting property. The story mentioned that, but only after leaving a false impression that two-bit pilferers are suddenly dropping like flies because of the new law dealing with the duty to retreat in the face of bodily harm.
Is this part of a pattern at downstate papers? You judge. A headline on a Beaumont Enterprise item says this:
Study finds ‘stand your ground’ laws increase murder rates
That’s true, as far as the study goes. But I think Beaumont readers care about one state’s laws and one state’s murder rates, and that’s Texas’. The truth here is that since the 2007 law change (call it “castle doctrine” or “stand your ground” law – same thing) Texas murders have gone down each year.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com ...
Has Texas’ ‘castle doctrine’ law really caused fewer burglaries?
There .... I fixed it.
ok
I wonder how many killers read a newspaper within a day or two of killing someone? Maybe we need to take newspapers away...
Actually, first I’d try to shoot the jar out of his hand. :-)
Trying to give damn.............nope, ain’t working...
Merely Texans doing the job that Americans won't.
You might be coming IN the door as the crook is going out.
Or, you could just roll ‘im over and blast him from the front; too.
Who cares, as long the bad guys are the ones getting killed?
Actually, murders don’t go up at all because of this. Deaths might go up, but a legitimate killing is not murder.
Besides, its a good thing if more people die because of this law, because that would imply that there are fewer criminals walking around.
Kind of silly isn't it, giving up your life for the contents of a tip jar?
There are consequences for being stupid.
...and probably for shooting someone running away with just a tip jar also.
Here’s a challange for you, one that somehow I doubt you’re up to;
Give a dollar amount at which shooting the thief with the tip jar in the back is justified in your mind.
$100?
$1,000?
$10,000?
$100,000?
A person is justified in using deadly force against another to protect land or tangible, movable property:
(1) if he would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.41; and
(2) when and to the degree he reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary:
(A) to prevent the other's imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, theft during the nighttime, or criminal mischief during the nighttime; or
(B) to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the nighttime from escaping with the property; and
(3) he reasonably believes that:
(A) the land or property cannot be protected or recovered by any other means; or
(B) the use of force other than deadly force to protect or recover the land or property would expose the actor or another to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.
Keep in mind there is no violence allowed in posts. So if a person answers your post with any number, they are advocating violence. Perhaps your question should be removed for that reason alone.
Also, you forgot $1B, even $1T. If you shoot the $1T thief in the back, you go to jail for assassinating the president. Is it justified? Would such a post be allowed on Free Republic?
Be realistic. How many tip jars have you been around that even had $100 in them? Even if there was $100 in a tip jar, it would be emptied quickly.
How much do you think is in a typical tip jar?
??? Just because something is legal, doesn’t mean you should do it, does it? Unless of course, you just want to shoot someone.
And how about this guy (Roger Kreutz) who was killed by a 19 year old stealing a tip jar?
I'm just pointing out what the law says. And how often do we find out that some of these people that end up getting shot during a robbery have a long rap sheet?
How many criminals have broken into homes and stolen guns that were later used to kill someone.
How many criminals have killed or injured someone while fleeing from the police?
I guess it’s just relative to the situation then, as to whether or not someone should be shot.
More than enough to kill a thief over.
I predicted you weren't up to the challenge..I'd never let you in charge of the tip jar!
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